Spring-clip for reinforcing-bars.



J. L. BROWNLEE. SPRING CLIP FORREINFORGING BARS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1909'.

Patented De0..6,1 910.

"U TE Kl s'rnrn JAMES L. BROWNLEE; OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA SPRING-CLIP FOR REINFORCING-BARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

Application filed June 21, 1909. Serial No. 503,587..

have invented a new and useful SpringClip for Reinforcing-Bars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a new an useful lspring clip, and its object is to provide a simple and inexpensive deviceof this char-' acter which will quickly secure reinforcing bars and hold'them in their positions during the process of construction.

A further object is to provide a spring clip of novel construction that is self locking and does r iot require the members to be dis- ,torted as in other plips of a like nature.

A further objec'tjis' to provide a spring clip of novel c'on struction that can be used in combination in securing reinforcing bars.

A further object is to provide a spring clip of novel construction that does not require the use of tools in applying'same to the members to be secured or that requires distortion in beingremoved from the members.

To these ends the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a perspective of cross members or bars held In place by the use of my invention. Fig, 2, is a detailed View in perspective of a spring clip showing the central cross groove adapted to receive members or bars that are not of rectangular" dimensions. Fig. 3, shows a modified construction, of a spring clip, wherein the central cross groove is constructed for members or bars of rectangular dimensions. Fig. 4, is a side elevation showin a longitudinal member or bar and the en of a cross member or bar held in position by my invention, also the dotted lines show approximately the position 'of my invention immediately before applying same to the longitudinal member or bar. Fig. 5 is a side elevation, showing one of the extremities or legs of my spring cli resting in position on a memberor bar an the diagonally opposite engaging edges 8' and 9.

Like numerals indicate like parts in all the figures of, the drawings.

The cross members or bars used in concrete construction, such as the members 1 and 2, should be fastened together where they'cross each other so as to be free from any movement one upon the other, and it is to provide a sprin clip capable of performing this function t at I use a blank sheet or plate of steel or other resilient metal from which is struck the spring clip, 3 forming the subject matter of my invention.

The sprin clip when first struck is nearly of rectangu ar dimensions with the edge slots 4, which form recesses, to receive one of the bars. These slots are struck so that their sides are perpendicular to the faces of the clip. This is a very important feature as will be shown later.

Before my spring clip is suited to be apfrom a blank sheet or plate of steel it. is

necessary to crimp} the ,plate so as to form the central cross groove '5, the resilient arms 6 and the legs 7. The central cross groove 5 receives one of the members and partly surrounds same, the resilient arms 6 are to pro vide levers to allow the legs 7 to spring, and space on each side of the central cross groove so a like clip can be used in combination to interlock the coiiperating cross members, and the legs 7 carry edge slots 4, provide means of support for the members should they become displaced and tend to rest upon the form and means by which the spring clip can be placed upon the member.

The legs 7 are crimped so as to stand at or near 45 with the members being "secured, as best shown in Fig. 4. The ed e slots 4 are. slightly larger than the bars being held, and when the clip is sprung into the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4, by grasp-- ing the tops of the legs 7 and squeezing them together, the diagonally .opposite engaging edges 8 and!) release their grip and the. clip can be removed or replaced at will.

It is to be noted that the resilient arms 6 are crimped so as to join the top sides of the central cross groove 5 with a radius which gives the resilient arms 6 a downward slope. The edge slots 4 are slightly above the resilient arms 6 and tops of the central cross groove 5. These are very important features in my invention. First, the resilient arms 6 having a downward slope from the tops of the central cross groove 5 allow the legs 7 to spring outward and downward when pressure is exerted upon the diagonally opposite en aging edges 8 and 9 by the bar tending to sli p through the edge slots 4.

This outward and downward movement.

causes the edge. slots 4 to become smaller in 'the vertical plane and the diagonally opposite engaging edges-8 and 9 bite opposite sides of the bar in proportion to the applied pressure. Second, the sides of the-edge slots 4- being perpendicular to the faces of the clip and the legs 7 being bent sons to form an fangle of or'near 45 with the bar passing due to the springin t e clip, to rest anywhere except upon the diagonally o iiposite engaging edges 8 and 9 and this is su cient to cause the diagonally opposite engaging edges 8 and 9 to bite opposite sides. of the To place a spring clip upon a member all that is necessary is to squeeze the legs 7 together and slip the spring clip, upon the bar, as bar 1, so that it passes through the edge slots 4, on releasing the pressure upon the legs 7 the clip s rings into a position so that the diagona ly opposite engaging edges 8 and 9 are firmly pressed against opp'ositesides of the member or bar passing through the edge slots 4, This secures the bar 2 from moving along the bar 1, but the clip and bar 1 are free to move along bar 2. v

To eliminate this movement I em loy another of my spring clips and apply mute bar 2 as shown in Fig. 1. This secures both bars f ,in their proper places.

The above description applies equally'to 2'and the g. 3 where- It will be noted that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing the invention.

What I claim desire to secure by ters Patent is 1. In a reinforced construction, theconr bination of cross members or bars with spring clips having central cross grooves, to receive the members or bars and .partly surround same, resilient arms extending outward a-IId dOWDWBId from the edges of the central cross grooves and terminating in legs bent upward from the backs of the resilient arms; said legs provided with edge slots that receive the cooperating cross members or bars .and form seats for same, sub- .stantially as specified.

2,. In a reinforcedfconstruction, the combination of cross members or bars with from the spirit and scopeof;

spring clips having central cross grooves to receive the members or'bars and partly surround same, resilient arms extending outward and downward from the edges of the central cross grooves and terminating inlegs bent so as to form angles of or near 45 with the cooperating members or bars, said legs provided with edge slots that receive. the members or bars and form seats for same,

round same, resilient arms extending out- "ward and downward from the edges of the central cross grooves and terminating in legs bent so as to .form angles of or near 45 with the cooperating cross members or bars, said legs provided with edge slots whose sides are perpendicular to the faces of the clips opposite engaging edges that bite opposite sides of the cooperating cross mem bers or bars and prevent them from slipping through the edge slots; said engaging edges formed by the sides of the edge slots being perpendicular to the faces of the clips and the legs carrying said edge slots bent so as to form angles of or. near 45 with a horizontal plane passed through the central cross groove, substantially as specified.

4. In a reinforced construction, the combisame, resilient. arms extending outward and downward; from the edges of the central cross grooves, so as to form resilient body.

ortions' forithe legs and space between said egsto permit the cli s to intersect,.said legs provided with edges ots that receive the cooperating cross-members or bars and formse'ats fd f. Same-substantially; as spe'cified.

' 5; In a"; reinforced construction, the combination. 10f" coa erati gi crqss members or bars1wi'th a;pair-o fspring cl1ps struck from "a blank sheet orplate of steel, or other resilient-metal, and crimped so as to form central crossgrooves to receive the cooperating cross members or bars and partly inclose same, resilient arms extending outward and downwardfrom the top edges of the central cross grooves, legs formed by the extremities of the resilient arms being bent upward from the backs of the clips so as to form anclips, and diagonally opposite engaging edges that bite opposite sides of the co operating cross members or bars and prevent them from slipping through the edge slots, said engaging edges formed by the sides of the edge slots being perpendicular nation of cross members or bars with spring .clips having central cross grooves to. receive the, members or .bars and partly surround 120 gles of or near 45 with a horizontal plane to the faces of the clips and the legs carry- 'ing said edgeslots bentrso as to form angles of or near-45 with a horizontal planepassed through thecentral cross grooves,

said clips interlocked so that the central cross groove of one cli receives one of the coiiperating cross mem ers or bars and the central cross groove of the other clip to receive the other 006 rating cross member or bar and the edge s ots of one clip to receive the member or. bar that passes through the central cross groove of the other clip and the edge slots of the other clip to receive the member or bar that crosses the member or bar passin :through its central cross groove,

substantia y as specified;

'6. In aspring clip for the cooperating cross members of a reinforced construction the COIIlblIlfltlOIl' ofa central cross groove, to

receive one of; the cooperating cross mem-.

bers and partly encircle same, with resilient arms, extending outward and downward from the top edges of the -:x :ehtral cross groove, so as to form resilient. dy portions andspace on each side of thecentral cross a groove. so a like clip can be used in combination to in terlock the cohperating cross mem: bers, the extremitiesof said resilient arms bent upward from the back of the clip so as to. form angles of or near with a horizontal plane passedthrough the central cross groove, said extremities provided with edge" slots having diagonally-'- opposite en-' gaging edges that secure the member passing through the edge slots bybiting opposite sides of same, substantially as specified.

- cross members of a reinforced construction,-

7. In a spring clip for the cooperating the-combination of a central cross groove; to rece ve one of the cooperatmg cross members and partly encircle same, with resillent warms extending outward and downward from the top edges of the central cross groove, so as to form resilient body portions and space on 3 each side of the central cuss groove so a like clip can be used in combination to interlock the cotiperat-ing cross members, the extremities of said resilient arms bent upward from the back of the 'clip,said' extremities provided with edge slots to receive the other cooperating cross member, said edge slots provided with diagonally opposite engaging edges formed by the sides of the edge slots v 9. In a. s r' being perpendicular to the faces of the clips and the-extrem1ties carrying said edge slots bent so as to of the central cross groove so a like clip can be used in combination to interlock the cooperating cross members, the extremities of sald resilient arms bent upward from the back of the clip so as to form angles of or near 45 with a horizontal plane passed through the, central cross roove, 'said extremities provided with e ge slots having diagonally opposite engaging edges, the resilient arms',:su stantially as specified.

clip for the cotiperating cross members (if a reinforced construction, having a central cross groove, to receiveone -of-the cotiperating cross members and. partly encircle same, resilient arms extending outward and downward from the top edges of the central crbss groove so as to form resilient body portions and space on each side of the central cross groove so a like clip can beused-in combination to interlock the cooperating crossmembers, the extremities of near;4 5 with a horizontal plane passed through the central cross groove, said exsaid 'resillent arms bent upwardfrom the back of the clip so as to form angles of or tremities provided with edge slots having diagonally opposite engaging edges, the diagonally opposite engaging edges formed by the sides of the edge slots being perpendicular to. the faces of theclip' and the legs or extreinities carrying. said.edge slots bent upform angles of or near 45 with a horizontal plane passed through the central cross groove, substantially as specified. JAMES L. BROWNLEE.

Witnesses:

W. D. SMITH,

FRED L. MAURY.

ward from the back of the clip so as to I 

